Comparing "Poppies" and "War Photographer".

Hello and welcome to today's lesson.

My name is Mr. Young, and I'm so glad that you could join me in another lesson in this power and conflict poetry series.

So today's lesson is going to be all about comparing two fantastic poems in the anthology, and those poems are "War Photographer" and "Poppies." So really important in today's lesson that you have your copy of your anthology in front of you as we are going to be using it quite a bit.

So shall we get started? So today's lesson has a very clear learning outcome.

So let's take a look at what it is.

So by the end of today's lesson, everybody should be able to successfully compare "Poppies" and "War Photographer." And we have some very important words, our keywords in today's lesson.

So I do always encourage you to pause the video and jot these down, particularly if they are new to you 'cause we're gonna be using them quite a bit.

So let's take a look at what they are for today's lesson.

So our first word is caustic.

Caustic is sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way.

Asyndetic, a list separated by commas and not conjunctions.

So we're gonna see some really good examples of this in today's poems. And finally, complimentary, combining to emphasise the qualities of one another.

So ultimately when we are writing our essays, we want our use of evidence, our analysis to all be complimentary.

We want it to emphasise the quality of our work.

So we will have two very clear learning cycles in today's lesson.

So learning cycle one is going to be about mapping the similarities and differences between these two fantastic poems, between "Poppies" and between "War Photographer." And then we're gonna put all that into fantastic use in learning cycle two.

And you are going to produce an excellent piece of work, a really excellent comparison.

So really excited to see how you're going with that.

So let's get started with learning cycle one.

So what does a comparison question look like? So when you are writing about poems in this anthology, you will get a question very similar to this and the question will say, compare the ways that difficult experiences are presented in "Poppies" and one other poem.

So let's unpick what is really important about this question.

So firstly we've got the word compare, our command word, what we're effectively being told to do.

So that is all about considering the similarities and differences between two poems. Then we've also got the focus of the question, which in this case is all about difficult experiences.

So we will be thinking about how the poets convey key ideas linked to the question focus, how they show their key ideas linked to difficult experiences.

Then we are going to focus on that word presented.

What methods do the poets use? How do they present these big ideas? What words do they use? What language devices do they employ? And then finally, we will be linking it back to another poem.

So you'll be given one poem that you have to focus on.

So in this case it's "Poppies," but it is up to you to choose which other poem to compare it to.

So it's entirely your choice based on where you see the best comparison lying.

So compare the ways that difficult experiences are presented in "Poppies" and one other poem.

That's our focus question for today's lesson.

So quick discussion question for me then to kick us off with learning cycle one.

Which poem would you choose to compare with "Poppies" on the theme of difficult experiences and why? So really interesting question to start that, isn't it? So pause the video, have a quick discussion, or jot down some ideas if you're working independently, and then push play when you'd like to see how you could have approached the task.

Okay, excellent work on that.

Really, really fantastic start to today's lesson.

And I'm really, really enjoying all the varied and all the different comparisons that you could potentially use.

You know, there is not just kind of one and only poem that could compare with "Poppies" on difficult experiences.

There are a whole variety of different poems that could be compared in different ways, and I'm really, really enjoying all those conversations taking place that show all those differences and the different ways we can approach it.

So a couple of things that really jumped out to me were as follows.

So both "Poppies" and "Remains" explore the aftermath of war.

And I think this could be a really good entry point for a comparison.

So the former "Poppies" shows the difficult experiences of grief, and "Remains" shows the difficult experiences of PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder and how that soldier is affected by their time fighting.

So I think that could be a really good comparison.

You've also got the idea of "Poppies" being compared with "Kamikazi," and I heard lots of people pick up on this, which is great.

So both "Poppies" and "Kamikazi" explore how war can be a difficult experience for families of those involved in conflict.

So they both focus on the family element, don't they? The "Poppies" on the grieving mom, and "Kamikaze" on the family that kind of shun this kind of cowardly pilot, or at least they see him as very cowardly.

And finally, we've also got the idea of "Poppies" and "War Photographer" being able to be compared as well.

So both "Poppies" and "War Photographer" explore the quiet trauma of less recognised perspectives of war.

And I think we're gonna unpick that a little bit as we go through today's lesson.

So all of these comparisons are valid and meaningful.

Remember there is not one and one only poem you can compare with each.

There are lots of varied, and valid, and meaningful interpretations.

It's all about backing it up and complimenting it with really well-selected evidence and analysis from the text.

Okay, check for understanding for me then please.

You'll always be told which two poems to compare.

Is that true or false? Hit that pause button, complete the task, and then do push play when you'd like to see which is correct.

Okay, it's of course false, isn't it? It's absolutely up to you to choose that second poem, which one you will compare.

So let's make that a little bit more challenging.

Justify your answer, is it A or B? You will be given one poem, and it's up to you to choose another to compare with it, or is it B, you won't be given any poems. It's up to you to read the question and choose two poems to compare, which is the correct answer.

So once again, hit that pause button, complete the task, and then do push play when you'd like to proceed.

Okay, great job for identifying A.

You will be given one poem, but the second one is entirely of your choosing.

Great job if you picked up on that.

Okay, so let's pretend that I have chosen to compare "Poppies" and "War Photographer" to answer that question about difficult experiences.

So the next step for me is all about looking at the key ideas in both and crucially how the writers, how the poets use different methods to convey these ideas.

Let's look at an example.

So one of my key ideas is as follows.

So both poems explore less recognised perspectives of war and show that these perspectives are nonetheless painful.

I think that's a really, really important distinction between the two poems, isn't it? So how are methods used to convey these two ideas? Well we could say that "Poppies" uses the first person perspective to explore the grief or the mother whilst "War Photographer" uses third person to explore the trauma of a photographer.

So a really key difference there and a really important method employed by both writers.

So let's look at an example.

So we've got my stomach busy making tucks, darts, and pleats.

So this triplet shows the mother's anxiety, but textile imagery symbolises how she wants to remain close to her son.

I think that's really powerful, and it comes across a lot in that poem, doesn't it? So we can link that from "War Photographer" with words like dark and alone.

So the darkness could symbolise the photographer's trauma, and alone shows the isolation that is inseparable from this trauma.

So we are really starting to unpick very specific things in the poem that could be a really nice comparison.

We've also got this idea of tremble in "War Photographer" as well.

The verb tremble emphasises the photographer's physiological reaction to trauma.

So we've focused in on that idea of trauma, and we're unpicking evidence from each that really underpins it.

So let's take a look at some other big ideas that we could use to compare the poems and how we could use method to support these.

So our key idea is both "War Photographer" and "Poppies" explore powerful memories that are connected to their difficult experiences.

So my question for you is as follows, a discussion question.

What are memories like in "Poppies" compared to "War Photographer?" Are there any similarities, are there any differences? Hit that pause button, have a quick go at the task, and then push play when you'd like to see some feedback.

Okay, some really excellent discussions taking place there.

And you're absolutely correct.

There are lots of different ways that we could compare memories across those two poems. What I led with is as follows.

So in "Poppies," tender memories make it harder for her to say goodbye to her son.

Whereas in "War Photographer" it is the traumatic memories that are haunting.

So in "Poppies" it's these kind of memories of her son as a child that are making it quite difficult for her.

Whereas in "War Photographer," the memories are much more explicit, they are vivid, they are drawn directly from the front line.

So that is a really key difference between them, isn't it? So we've got some evidence here to support that.

So being Eskimos like when we did when you were little.

So there are nostalgic tones in "Poppies" which suggests the mother finds it hard to accept her son is growing up and leaving home.

Also shows how she wants to protect him.

So how could you compare that then with "War Photographer?" Which quote from "War Photographer" shows traumatic memories? And can you have a go at analysing the language structure within the quote that you have found? So you will need your anthology for this one.

So make sure you've got your anthology in front of you.

Which quotes from "War Photographer" will be a really good comparison with "Poppies?" So hit that pause button, complete the task, and then do push play when you'd like to continue.

Okay, fantastic job on that.

It's a really great skill isn't it, to be able to identify key parts of one poem and identify them with another.

And you are absolutely correct, there are lots of different parts of "War Photographer" that could form really nice analysis with "Poppies." Okay then we have reached our first practise task of today's lesson.

I'm super excited to see how you get on with this one.

So your task is as follows.

I would like you just to complete the grid that we have been working through in this learning cycle.

So your task is to complete the grid to explore the last key comparison between "Poppies" and "War Photographer." And your key idea is as follows.

Whilst "Poppies" ends with a sombre but peaceful tone, "War Photographer" ends with a caustic and restless tone.

Difficult experiences affect the figures differently, a really, really nice idea there.

And remember if something is caustic, it is kind of bitter in a very, very sarcastic way.

So I've got some questions to guide you in your identification of method.

And they are as follows.

Can you explain the reasons for the different tones at the end of each poem? Can you find a quote that shows the sombre and peaceful tone at the end of "Poppies?" What methods has Weir used to add meaning and why do you think she used it? Four, find a quote that shows the caustic and restless tone at the end of "War Photographer." And finally, can you have a go at analysing the language and structure within the quote that you found.

It's a really, really challenging task there, but I'm really, really looking forward to seeing how you approach them.

So hit that pause button, complete the task, and then do push play when you'd like to see some feedback.

Okay, fantastic work on that task.

My goodness, you are working incredibly hard in this lesson, which I love to see.

Those are some really challenging questions, but your approach to that is really, really great.

So let's take a look at what we could have said.

So number one, can you explain the reasons of the different tones at the end of each poem? What we could have said, in "Poppies," the mother seems to be at peace with her son's death, perhaps knowing he's free from suffering.

But in "War Photographer," the photographer is perhaps restless and caustic because he feels his job is futile.

He feels he's having no effect.

Number two, find a quote that shows the sombre and peaceful tone at the end of "Poppies." Well we could have said that a dove pulled freely against the sky, an ornamental stitch.

You know, doves have connotations of kind of peace and wellbeing.

So potentially that could link to that.

Question three, what methods has Weir used to add meaning and why do you think she used it? We could say, well, a dove is a symbol of peace, linking back to what we just said, while stitch could represent how she still feels bonded to her son.

So picking up on two very keywords there to make a really high level point.

Number four, find a quote that shows the caustic and restless tone at the end of "War Photographer." Well I really looked at lines 23 and 24.

I think there's a lot there, isn't there, that really highlights the caustic nature of what the poet is saying.

And finally, five, can you have a go at analysing the language and structure within the quote you found? What stuck out to me were the use of plosive consonant sounds like D and C, suggesting the frustration of the "War Photographer." So excellent work if you picked up on anything similar in your own work.

Okay, then we have reached learning cycle two, where we're gonna put all that fantastic work into practise by making a really nice written comparison.

So let's get started.

So here's a section of my comparative paragraph, and it reads as follows.

So both "Poppies" and "War Photographer" explore less recognised perspectives of war and how these can be just as painful as those who experience war firsthand.

"Poppies" is written in the first person and explores the raw grief of the mother when saying goodbye to her son as he leaves for war and a subsequent mourning over his death.

The mother's grief is so overwhelming that she attempts to repress it when saying goodbye.

Weir likens her grief to a songbird in its cage.

And this is reflected in the structure of the poem.

The two longest stanzas could mirror the overflowing grief of the mother that she encloses in a cage, reflected by the two shorter sestets either side.

And finally, the mother's attempt to cope with the loss of her son continues.

Her stomach is busy making tuck, darts, and pleats.

The fast pace of the asyndetic listing shows the anxiety which the mother may feel whilst her son is away.

And the textile imagery could symbolise the longing of the mother to feel close to her son as stitches bind things together.

Similarly, it finishes there.

So my task for you is as follows.

So where do you see the success criteria being met in the paragraph so far? So you can either choose to go back a slide as you complete this to the slide I just read from, or you can find a copy of that answer in the additional materials as well.

So your checklist is to identify a topic sentence, where it includes quotes, where I make inferences, where I mention the effect of a literary device, where I use tentative language, and where I discuss relevant contextual links.

So hit that pause button, complete the task, and then push play when you'd like to continue with today's lesson.

Okay, excellent work on that task, and hopefully you are able to find all of those things in that answer.

And this could be a really good checklist for your piece of writing that you're going to do later on.

It's a really, really good skill to be able to identify these things in other people's writing 'cause it just strengthens our ability to spot it within our own.

So check for understanding for me then please.

So both "Poppies" and "War Photographer" explore less recognised perspectives of war and how these are nonetheless painful than those who experience war firsthand.

This is the comparative topic sentence, supporting detail, or contextual link.

So hit that pause button, complete the task, and then do push play when you'd like to see which is correct.

Okay, fantastic effort if you identified A as our comparative topic sentence, isn't it? 'Cause we are comparing the two poems, and we are linking it to a main idea, which is the idea that kind of different perspectives of war are no less painful than those who experience it directly.

Okay, another check for understanding for me then please.

So the fast pace of the asyndetic listing shows the anxiety which the mother may feel whilst her son is away.

This part of the paragraph describes the writer's intention, mentions the effect of a literary device, or does it utilise single word analysis? So once again, hit that pause button, complete the task, and then do push play when you'd like to continue.

Okay, well done to everybody who identified B.

It is B, isn't it? We are looking at that literary device, which is asyndetic listing, and we are linking it to a really, really key point to interpret the poem.

Well done if you picked up on that.

Okay, then quick discussion question.

So what complimentary content would you put into the paragraph from the poem "War Photographer" in order to finish it? And that paragraph begins as follows.

So both "Poppies" and "War Photographer" explore less recognised perspectives of war and how these can be just as painful as those who experience war firsthand.

I've got some questions to guide you.

Those questions are, which difficult emotions does "War Photographer" explore and what evidence do you have for this? Could repression be relevant in "War Photographer" too? And finally, why might Duffy have used third person and Weir have used first? So really looking forward to seeing how you got with this one.

So pause the video, take a look at your anthology, 'cause you will need that for this, and then do push play when you'd like to proceed.

Okay, excellent work on that.

Really, really well done for linking your annotations in your anthology to these key questions.

And keep that fresh in your mind 'cause this will be really relevant as we approach the practise task.

Okay, so we have reached the final practise task of today's lesson.

So we need to make this one count.

So your task is as follows.

I would like you to write another paragraph responding to this question.

How do poets present ideas about difficult experiences in "Poppies" and one other poem from the anthology? And you could write about the following, the difficult emotions the photographer experienced in "Poppies" versus "War Photographer", the language form and structural choices in both poems, and finally, the distinct and similar intentions of both Weir and Garland.

And we've got that checklist here to help us with that paragraph, and that checklist is as follows.

So I would like you to start with a comparative topic sentence.

I would like you to include quotes from both poems to make inferences to mention the effect of literary devices, to use tentative language, and finally discuss relevant contextual links.

Really looking forward to seeing how you got on with this one today.

So hit that pause button, complete the task, and then do push play when you'd like to see a little bit of feedback.

Okay, great effort on that.

My goodness, you are working incredibly hard today, which is what I love to see.

So you should have a fantastic paragraph in front of you now.

So let's take a look at what the Oak pupils are doing.

So the Oak pupils are trying to tie the poet's choice of perspective to the poet's intentions.

So we've got this example here from Izzy.

Weir, being a mother herself perhaps wanted to give a voice to the mothers of soldiers who experience quiet trauma.

She allows the reader insight into what the poppy flower truly represents.

And we've got this example here from Andy who says, Duffy, having "War Photographer" friends, may have wanted to reflect her personal experience of witnessing the trauma of someone that was close to her.

By choosing a perspective that allows us insight into the difficult daily workings of the photographer's life, Duffy is able to get the reader to question their own indifference to the suffering in war zones.

Two really, really nice extracts there from student work.

So we can see that both pupils are using participle phrases to help them reflect on the details of the poet's lives.

Really, really important here, really important detail in their writing.

So can you add any ideas from Izzy and Andy into your own work? Can you take anything from theirs that could enhance your work a little bit more? Okay, my goodness.

Thank you for such an excellent lesson today.

It's been an absolute pleasure to teach you on this lesson all about "Poppies" and "War Photographer." So let's just quickly recap all of the things that we've learned today.

So for your power and conflict essay, you will be given one poem, and you have to choose one to compare it with.

"Poppies" could compare well with "Remains," "Kamikaze," or "War Photographer." "Poppies" and "Kamikaze" explore less recognised perspectives of war and show that these perspectives are nonetheless painful.

"War Photographer" and "Poppies" explore powerful memories that are connected to their difficult experiences.

And finally, "Poppies" ends with a sombre but peaceful tone.

"War Photographer" ends with a caustic and restless tone.

Well done for all of your hard work today.

And I really look forward to teaching you on another lesson in this sequence.

So thank you very much and goodbye.